Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are essential sources of nutrient and bioactive compounds that confer beneficial effects on human health. However, their short shelf-life at room temperature causes losses and waste during all phases of the supply chain and handling. In this study, a porous biodegradable sodium alginate composite fortified with Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyx extract was fabricated by freeze-drying and evaluated for multifarious applications. Scanning electron micrograph of composite with or without extract indicated uniformly distributed porous structure, whereas contact angles of 18.47º and 34.43º for control and test composite, respectively indicated that the samples were hydrophilic. Cytotoxicity assay indicated that the composites were compatible with renal cells (Vero) and human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) , yielding a > 80% viability. Furthermore, the H. sabdariffa L. extract fortified composite delayed the spoilage of climacteric fruits during storage and showed improved human keratinocyte cells migration. The results of the blood coagulation assessment showed a dose-dependent hemostasis activity for the test composite suggesting its potential biological efficacy. Thus, the composite can be further explored as a multifarious functional stick-fresh composite for the shelf-life extension of climacteric fruits and vegetables.